Tokyo Toppled as Singapore’s Soaring Prices Make it Most Expensive City in the World

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living Survey has revealed that Singapore has replaced Tokyo as the most expensive city in the world.

The survey investigates more than 400 individual prices in 131 countries, and credits the strength of the Singaporean dollar and high energy and fuel prices as the main motivators behind Singapore’s move to the top of the podium.

Former champion of expense Tokyo has slipped to 6th place, tied with Caracas, Geneva AND Melbourne. We personally find it difficult to believe that four such distinctive cities spread across the world could be so closely matched in price, but according to the EIU that’s the case.

Here’s the breakdown of the top 10:

1. Singapore

2. Paris

3. Oslo

4. Zurich

5. Sydney

6. Caracas

6. Geneva

6. Melbourne

6. Tokyo

7. Copenhagen

London is conspicuously missing from the line-up, particularly as it was recently named the most expensive city in the world by an Expatisan survey.

How much stock one should put into these lists is debateable, as different researchers use wildly different methods to calculate overall cost. Whilst it’s not unfair to say that Singapore’s an expensive city, is Zurich really more expensive than London? We have our doubts.

And at the other end of the scale? Mumbai holds the dubious honour of being the world’s cheapest city, with Karachi, New Delhi, Kathmandu and war-torn Damascus pipped to the post.